For those that have connected a light on the dash to the supplemental brake system, (brake buddy in my case) where did you connect the light to? The alert terminals on the brake buddy? Someone mentioned connecting to the TOAD brake light circuit but that is on whenever the MH brakes are one because of the tow hitch wiring. Needs to be a light that tells when the brake buddy has activated. Suggestions?

Johnny thats a good informative post. I too enjoy my tow brake and brakeaway. Yes it is a personal choice and well it should be. I just don't understand why some disagree so stongly when you offer advice in favor, to someone new that has asked for advice? I'll definately recomend to someone asking, to see this sticky.

Because of price we are looking at the Readybrute/Readybrake system but it has to be ordered as you can't buy them in stores. You can get the whole system for under $1500 + install...if you need that. Seen a lot of good things about it on the forums.

I am thinking of buying from "Towbars Unlimited" out of Florida. Has anyone done business with this company and how was their service if you did?

Deen wrote:Johnny:
The Towing World chart you posted the link to is not really accurate either. In checking three states (OR, WA & CA) that I have researched thoroughly I found that the list was wrong on two of them (OR & WA) and the third (CA) was incomplete.

I have gotten great information from these postings. I tow a Saturn Sl2 that weighs just 2375 pounds and barely lets its presence be felt in my 34 ft.
Rexhall Rolls Air with a Chevy Chassis....I purchased a supplemental system for safety reasons, but as "anti-lawyer" insurance also. Would hate to get in a serious accident and have the insurance company lawyers saying that all is not
well because I had no supplemental system in place....Just about no one mentioned that the law in CA. calls for supplamental braking when towing anything weighing more that 1500 lbs....(it used to be 3000 lbs.) I would rather err on the side of caution than to be held liable and/or not fully covered in the event of an accident.

Rich wrote:I have gotten great information from these postings. I tow a Saturn Sl2 that weighs just 2375 pounds and barely lets its presence be felt in my 34 ft.
Rexhall Rolls Air with a Chevy Chassis....I purchased a supplemental system for safety reasons, but as "anti-lawyer" insurance also. Would hate to get in a serious accident and have the insurance company lawyers saying that all is not
well because I had no supplemental system in place....Just about no one mentioned that the law in CA. calls for supplamental braking when towing anything weighing more that 1500 lbs....(it used to be 3000 lbs.) I would rather err on the side of caution than to be held liable and/or not fully covered in the event of an accident.

With regard to supplemental brakes, California's towing laws specifically reference towed motor vehicles separately from trailers. For towed vehicles it is determined by the weight classification of the towing vehicle and its ability to stop within a prescribed distance for its weight class at 20 MPH, while towing the vehicle. If it can do this then supplemental brakes are not required. A breakaway device is still required by California.

gotsmart wrote:With regard to supplemental brakes, California's towing laws specifically reference towed motor vehicles separately from trailers. For towed vehicles it is determined by the weight classification of the towing vehicle and its ability to stop within a prescribed distance for its weight class at 20 MPH, while towing the vehicle. If it can do this then supplemental brakes are not required. A breakaway device is still required by California.

In the above document from the CA DMV, the section RVs Towing Cars or Other Vehicles specifically states that "If you use a tow bar, safety chains are required, but a breakaway switch is not."

The Braking System Towing Vehicles law (CVC 26458) has a specific exemption for Towed motor vehicles (subdivision c, part 3).

The smartcarofamerica.com links above also refer to CVC 26304 - the Breakaway law. CVC 26304 addresses trailers, semitrailers, and trucks. But a towed vehicle is none of those, as defined in the California Vehicle Code.

I've seen that publication before...and it is fairly comprehensive, but it isn't a law that was passed by the California state legislature. A judge is not bound to it. I prefer citing the law directly - however obscure it may be.

There is a 2nd post immediately below the referenced post in the smartcarofamerica.com link that refers to section 26508 (Emergency stopping). Subsection (d) reads:

Quote:d) Towed vehicles shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section when:

(1) The towed vehicle is equipped with a no-bleed-back relay-emergency valve or equivalent device, so designed that the supply reservoir used to provide air for the brakes is safeguarded against backflow of air from the reservoir through the supply line.

(2) The brakes are applied automatically and promptly upon breakaway from the towing vehicle and maintain application for at least 15 minutes, and

(3) The combination of vehicles is capable of stopping within the distance and under the conditions specified in subdivisions (k) and (l).

Section 26508 does not appear to be referenced from within another section (like 26454 is), but it is referenced in the "One Point Count California Vehicle Code Violations" table of the point violations against one's drivers license. Sometimes all of the relevant information is scattered across several sections.

The link is a good starting point for trip planning but I am a bit leery of it as it doesn't show when the information for each US state was last updated. State goverments tweak such laws from time to time and portions of such a chart may not be current.